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Pirbright Ranges

A large enclosed heathland site with no public access. Managed on behalf of the MOD, this unique reserve is grazed by a herd of red deer by the Trust.

Location

Between Pirbright and Lightwater

Surrey

Know before you go

Size

1097 hectares

Parking information

No car park

Grazing animals

Deer

Access

No public access

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Not applicable

Best time to visit

Not applicable

About the reserve

Please note that this site is adjacent to a live military firing range and is not accessible to the public.

Owned by the MOD, Pirbright Ranges is one of the largest remaining areas of lowland heath in Surrey. It is rich in heathland wildlife, including many rare species.

Pirbright Ranges is a unique site in many ways. Due to the dangers associated with live-fire training, access to the reserve is highly regulated and Trust staff can only enter at certain times using special vehicles.

As a result of this limited access to manage the site, the Trust employs the help of a herd of red deer to graze the site and help stop invasive scrub from reclaiming the heath. These semi-wild animals are well adapted to the local environment and require minimal human intervention.